French Open 2023: Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina has suffered an injury setback ahead of the French Open 2023. While playing her round of 16 match against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia at the Stuttgart Open 2023, Rybakina retired due a lower back issue while being down a set and a break in the 2nd set. Follow French Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Rounding out the @PorscheTennis quarterfinals is Beatriz Haddad Maia after Rybakina retired due to injury.
Final score: 6-1, 3-1. pic.twitter.com/ki7IkpcOk6
— wta (@WTA) April 20, 2023
The Kazakh player won only one game in the opening set and called for a medical timeout in the second when she was 2-1 down, the women’s tour said.
After play resumed, Haddad Maia won another game before Rybakina decided to retire trailing 6-1 3-1. The Brazilian will face third seed Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals later on Friday.
Last week, Rybakina helped Kazakhstan advance to the Billie Jean King Cup finals for the second time after defeating Poland 3-1 in their qualifier.
Rybakina going into French Open 2023
Rybakina has been in form form all year, after winning Wimbledon in 2022, she started the 2023 season on high by reaching the Australian Open 2023 final.The Kazakh then went on to win Indian Wells and reached the final of Miami Open, falling one match short of claiming the Sunshine Double.
This was the slam champion’s first clay tournament for her preparation for the French Open 2023 which is the second Grand Slam of the tennis season. Roland Garros 2023 will start from May 28 with the final being held on June 11. Rybakina’s best result at the clay court major came in 2021 when she reached the quarter finals for the first time.
Currently, Rybakina stands at the 2nd position in the WTA race to the Finals and can take a substantial lead if she is fit for the French Open.
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